274 ANTHEACOCEEOS COEONATUS. 



new species. I was told by a native superintendent that a large black-and-white Hornbill is seen sometimes 

 in the jungles at the eastern end of the Haputale range ; but I have no doubt that it is the present species, 

 which ascends from the low country to the higher jungles during the N.E. monsoon. 



Jerdon remarks that the Malabar Pied Hornbill is found in all the heavy jungles of Southern India, and 

 that he met with it in Malabar, Goomsoor, and Central India. It does not seem to be an inhabitant of the 

 hills in the extreme south of the peninsula, where, however, the Great Hornbill {Homraius bicornis) is 

 found. Mr. Fairbank records it from Eatnaghiri, near Bombay, and Mr. Ball from ChotaNagpur ; the latter 

 writes, " The Malabar Pied Hornbill affects certain localities in Chota Nagpur, where it may generally be 

 found in a flock numbering from 6 to 10 individuals. I have shot it in Manbhum, Singhbhum, and Sirguja, 

 and seen it in the fine jungles which border the Ghat from the Eanchi plateau to Purulia." 



Habits. — The Crowned Hornbill lives in small parties, frequenting the tops of trees and feeding on the 

 many fruits with which the Ceylon jungles abound. These it swallows whole, whether large or small. 

 Layard says that to procure its food, " when attached to a branch, it resorts to an odd expedient — the coveted 

 morsel is seized in its powerful bill, and the bird throws itself from its perch, twisting and flapping its wings 

 until the fruit is detached ; on this the wings are extended, the descent arrested, and the bird regains its 

 footing." 



An individual which Layard kept in captivity was observed to use its bill in recovering its perch in the 

 same manner that a Parrot would do, except that instead of the upper mandible only it employed the whole of 

 the bill to hook itself on by. It is a shy bird, taking wing at once on seeing itself approached ; but it usually 

 does not take long flights ; when it does the momentum of its huge bill and heavy neck are such as to cause 

 it on alighting to topple forward before gaining its equilibrium. When flying it proceeds with rather quick 

 flapping of the wings, and then sails along with them outstretched, its long tail and motionless primaries 

 giving it a singular aspect. It has a loud harsh note, and is very noisy in the morning and evening, three or 

 four together without much difficulty making themselves heard far and wide. In the jungles of the eastern 

 side of the island it is partial to the tall forest-trees growing on the margins of the rivers, as in the less fertile 

 tracts away from the influence of the water there is not so much means of subsistence for it, except where 

 the iron-wood tree is to be found, the luscious fruit of which attracts to it every fruit-eating bird in the 

 forest. It is likewise very fond of the banyan fruit. Layard remarks that they are often to be seen feeding 

 on the ground ; but this I have never been fortunate enough to see myself. 



Nidification. — This bird breeds in the cavity of a tree, and the male, as is the case with other species, 

 doses up the entrance while the female is incubating her eggs, leaving a small hole only sufficiently large to 

 admit of his feeding his imprisoned partner. After the young arc hatched the mud wall is broken down 

 either by the male or the female, and both assist in feeding their offspring. In the case of the present 

 species we have nothing but native evidence in support of this extraordinary habit ; but I think it may well 

 be credited, in the face of what has been seen by reliable witnesses of the nesting of other Hornbills. The 

 natives attribute the cause of this strange proceeding to the birds' fear of the monkeys, which inhabit the 

 Ceylon forests in such numbers : be this as it may, I doubt not that the incarceration actually does take 

 place ; and it would be very interesting if some undeniable proof of it could be obtained by observation on 

 the part of some of my readers in the Ceylon Civil Service or the Public Works Department, who, by offering 

 a reward for the finding of a nest in the forests surrounding their Station, might perhaps succeed in making 

 some valuable notes on the subject. I have no information concerning the eggs of the Crowned Hornbill, 

 for they do not appear, as yet, to have been procured. 



